In 60 seconds
Long known as the 'Switzerland of Vidzeme', Sigulda is the dramatic gateway to Gauja National Park, where the ancient Gauja River has carved an 85-metre deep sandstone canyon through pristine forest. Three medieval castles guard this primeval landscape: the dramatic 1214 red-brick stronghold of Turaida Castle crowning its forested bluff, the romantic stone ruins of Sigulda Castle of the Livonian Order, and the cliffside remnants of Krimulda Castle. Across the gorge, Latvia's only aerial cable car carries passengers 43 metres above the treetops, while down at the river's edge, Gūtmaņala (Gutmanis Cave) stands as the largest cave in the Baltic states, its sandstone walls covered in centuries of traveller inscriptions dating back to the 16th century. In autumn, the valley turns into a sea of blazing gold and crimson foliage.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You have difficulty with staircases or walking hills; experiencing Turaida, the caves and the river valley involves scenic forest climbs.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Sigulda & Gauja Valley fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Red-brick fortress founded in 1214 by the Archbishop of Riga, set in a 42-hectare heritage park
Climb the 38-metre circular brick tower for the ultimate postcard view of the winding Gauja river valley.
Scenic cable car spanning 1,020 metres across the river valley, 43 metres above the water
Float smoothly across the gorge between Sigulda and Krimulda with views of Turaida Castle and the river below.
The largest cave in the Baltic states, etched with coats of arms and graffiti dating back to 1500s
Taste the mineral spring water that created the 19-metre-deep cavern and read antique visitor inscriptions in the rock.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Where to eat the food this city is actually known for.
Traditional wooden log manor tavern on the Turaida road serving hearty roasted Vidzeme game and trout
Dine on smoked venison sausages, wild mushroom pies and roast pork in a monumental hand-hewn pine log house.
Warm, country-chic restaurant and deli serving Mediterranean-Latvian fusion dishes and artisan cakes
Fresh chanterelle pastas, baked local cheeses and berry pastries on a sunlit veranda after a hike in the valley.
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Cozy specialty coffee shop and bakery near the train station popular with cyclists and hikers
The ideal pre-hike stop for craft pour-overs, flat whites and warm cardamom buns straight from the bakery.
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Walking distance to the train station, Livonian castle ruins, bobsleigh track and cable car
Best for car-free travellers arriving by train, with easy walking access to the cable car and restaurants.
Forest retreats, spa manors and riverside lodges tucked under the canopy of Gauja National Park
Peaceful woodland immersion for travellers with cars who want morning birdsong and valley views.
Practical
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword erect Sigulda Castle as a fortified base against the Livonian tribes.
Archbishop Albert of Riga begins constructing Turaida Castle atop the high opposing bluff of the Gauja river.
Gauja National Park is established as Latvia's first national park, protecting the unique sandstone valley.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Historic 19th-century paper mill village, sandstone cliff caves, and a preserved top-secret Soviet fallout bunker
Tour the underground bunker 9 metres beneath a rehabilitation clinic built for Soviet Latvia's communist elite.
